It would be great if Phase One were to respond with an updated version of the Mamiya ZD camera body
with similar features as Pentax 645D.
Maybe, but I keep thinking . . .
Which is more important, creativity in images or a new camera?
The high end cameras to me seem to be locked in the past, with formats that we call medium (which I think is now something like 6 frame sizes) or ff 35mm and though they can produce a still image of amazing detail, that usually does nothing for creativity.
We are ooohing and ahhing about the new Pentax, I think mostly because of it's 1/2 price cost and near dslr usability, but in reality even if it was sold on your local street corner today what can you shoot with it that you can't shoot with a used Hasselblad, Contax, with almost any digital back?
It might look 25% different to the photographer but to the paying client or the end viewing consumer what is really that different?
Cameras are made to tell a story, whether it' one frame or 500,000 frames, it's all about the creativity not the pixel depth, the smoothness in graduation, the bigger brighter viewfinder.
I think it's interesting that for the Hurt Locker, that swept the Academy Awards, Katheryn Bigelow's crew chose Aaton 16mm cameras to show multiple perspectives and a Phantom HD 1,000 fps camera for drama in the explosions.
http://blog.abelcine.com/2010/03/08/the-hu...nematic-ground/Her camera package and film costs were probably less than James Cameron's Latte budget and though even with that I'm sure there is some forum post on some forum that says if she'd only shot it with a 70mm it would have won 3 more Awards.
This is a funny business, cause nobody initially hires you for anything but the image, the creativity, maybe your production values/professionalism.
Actually nearly everyone that works in editorial and commerce could (I didn't say should, I just said could) shoot their portfolio and reel on a panasonic 4/3's camera and if the work is compelling enough to get attention, then on the day your commissioned you can go to any equipment the budget can afford whether it be a RED, a 65 million pixel digital back or anything you desire and that your client will accept.
http://tinyurl.com/yj2jb87So when I think finally a medium format camera with a decent lcd for 10 grand I start thinking hmm, 10 grand goes a long way to shooting something interesting, maybe something I haven't shot before . . . 20 to 30 grand personal project, now that's an investment that will pay off.
But . . . If you really want to improve the look of your imagery, send a color calibrator to your potential clients, either than or buy an I-Mac and just image everything at that retina burning blue setting they come out of the box with.
IMO
BC
